Police: Murder suspects plotted at courthouse

Friday

Dec 6, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 6, 2013 at 9:22 AM

A courthouse encounter between two acquaintances led to the robbery and shooting death of a South Side man last month, Columbus police said in a court document. Derrick L. Robinson, 35, and Melanie D. Spears, 36, ran into each other when they were both dealing with traffic issues at Franklin County Municipal Court on Nov. 20, according to a search-warrant affidavit filed with the court.

Allison Manning, The Columbus Dispatch

A courthouse encounter between two acquaintances led to the robbery and shooting death of a South Side man last month, Columbus police said in a court document.

Derrick L. Robinson, 35, and Melanie D. Spears, 36, ran into each other when they were both dealing with traffic issues at Franklin County Municipal Court on Nov. 20, according to a search-warrant affidavit filed with the court.

According to the affidavit:

Spears had been delivering pills and marijuana to buyers for Shaun Fullen, 35. When she saw Robinson at the courthouse, she told him about the drugs, guns and cash in Fullenís apartment at 1647 Smith Rd.

They decided to set Fullen up to be robbed that night, according to a man who witnessed the planning and later spoke to detectives.

The plan was for Spears to drive to Fullenís apartment with Robinson and another man following, then let them inside.

That night, when Fullen went to the bathroom, Robinson and the second man entered the apartment. Fullen went for a gun, and Robinson shot him.

Fullen was found bloodied and shot in the bathroom by his roommate about 1 a.m. on Nov. 21.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the death. Robinson, of S. Ohio Avenue on the South Side, and Spears, of Bennington Creek Lane on the Far East Side, are charged with aggravated murder.

Ryan Messer, 22, of 220 N. Oakley Ave. on the Hilltop, is charged with tampering with evidence and receiving stolen property. The search warrant, for Messerís home turned up a .40-caliber Glock taken from Fullenís apartment.

Terrille D. Ellis, 25, of 1047 Wilson Ave. on the South Side, was charged with aggravated murder on Wednesday. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was at large yesterday.

Spears and Robinson remain in the Franklin County jail; bail for each was set at $1 million.